Tottenham seemed to have turned a corner in their season with impressive wins against Liverpool and Tamworth, but their broader struggles can’t solely be placed on Ange Postecoglou’s shoulders. The manager is facing a significant injury crisis, forcing him to rely heavily on young players to fill critical gaps in the squad.
The Australian tactician entered the North London Derby with hopes of building on his team’s improved form against an Arsenal side still reeling from a frustrating loss to a 10-man Manchester United. Despite Arsenal’s recent struggles, Postecoglou knew the challenge would be formidable—and it was.
Arsenal dominated early proceedings, asserting control from the first whistle. Tottenham’s recent signing, Kinsky, made his third consecutive start, while Djed Spence dazzled with an impressive run capped by a clever trivela pass. However, Gabriel was quick to thwart the danger. Spurs had their moments, with Kulusevski missing a golden opportunity he’ll surely rue, though the resulting corner allowed Son to break the deadlock with a breathtaking volley.
But the lead didn’t last. A controversial corner led to an unfortunate own goal by Solanke, levelling the score. Matters worsened when a costly mistake by Bissouma handed Arsenal an opening. Odegaard capitalized with precision, setting up Trossard to calmly slot the ball past Tottenham’s goalkeeper—a moment that raised questions about the keeper’s performance.
The second half saw both teams push for dominance in what became a fiercely contested battle. Arsenal dominated possession, but Tottenham’s resilience shone through, with Kulusevski emerging as their standout performer. The Swedish winger maintained his strong form, constantly troubling Arsenal’s defence. Despite their valiant effort, Spurs couldn’t find the equalizer in a match that was a true rollercoaster.
Here’s how Tottenham players performed in the North London Derby against Arsenal on Thursday.
4o
Tottenham Starting XI
Antonin Kinsky: 6/10
The youngster brimming with confidence put up a great show but we finally saw him falter. Will definitely regret conceding the second goal
Pedro Porro: 7/10
Porro was active in the attack but defensively wasn’t his best night. Had a very clever target on goal at the ending moments, if only he could have squeezed it in
Radu Dragusin: 6/10
Dragusin was solid at the back but faced a lot of pressure from Arsenal’s attacking play. Could have done a lot better defending in Arsenal’s first goal
Archie Gray: 6/10
Did his job defensively, but there were a few moments where his lack of experience came out
Djed Spence: 7/10
Spence was one of the more lively players for Spurs, continuing his great form and you could just see him everywhere on the pitch. Made two fantastic runs
Lucas Bergvall: 6/10
Bergvall struggled to make a major impact on the game. His defensive contributions were decent, but he didn’t offer much going forward.
Pape Matar Sarr: 6/10
Was substituted early in the second half as he was unable to make a significant difference in the final third.
Yves Bissouma: 4/10
Failed to control the midfield as the norm and his error led to Arsenal’s second goal, which will be a huge disappointment for him.
Dejan Kulusevski: 8/10
Kulusevski was easily one of Tottenham’s best players. His vision and passing created several chances, including a great cross for Solanke, but he was unlucky with his own shot
Heung-min-Son: 5/10
Scored a brilliant goal, giving Spurs the lead, and was a constant threat on the counter-attack. Arguably the best Spurs player on pitch in the first half
Dominic Solanke: 5/10
Solanke’s performance was underwhelming. Although he won set pieces and created spaces, missed a key chance and was involved in an own goal
Substitutes
Brennan Johnson: 5/10
came on and showed flashes of pace and potential. Just one half did not do the youngster justice
James Maddison: 6/10
Maddison made a difference after coming on, adding more creativity to the midfield. Should have pulled the trigger on many occasions
Richarlison: 6/10
Worked hard and created space for others. He had limited time but just couldn’t break the net
